Frederick Augustus Rauch

Germany

Rauch was born Frederich Augustus Rauch in Kirchbracht, Hessee-Darmstadt on July 27, 1806. Rauch's mother died when he was an infant and he was raised by his father, the clergyman Heinrich Rauch. Rauch was sent to a private primary school from early childhood, where he excelled and graduated early.

Rauch entered the University of Marburg when he was 18, graduating with top honors three years later in 1827. His thesis, written in Latin, was a philosophical discussion of Sophocles' play Electra. After graduating, Rauch studied at the University of Giessen for one year while serving as an assistant for his uncle. After Giessen, Rauch moved to study at the University of Heidelberg.

At Heidelberg, Rauch was mentored by Karl Daub. Rauch was inspired by Daub's theological instruction and pursued a career as a professor of theology. Upon leaving Heidelberg, the government appointed Rauch as a lecturer at the University of Giessen at 24 years old. This was rare, as Joseph Henry Dubbs described: "Such an appointment at so early an age has to my knowledge only once been repeated in this century, viz., in the case of Friedrich Nietzsche, who is considered the profoundest philosophical thinker of modern Germany."

In private life, Rauch passionately espoused his beliefs. After fleeing Germany for expressing his political beliefs, Rauch was described as intellectually and personally "communicative" by American colleagues.

While serving as president of Marshall College, Rauch died on March 2, 1841 and he was buried in Mercersburg. His remains were later moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.